Cigar extinguisher &amp; saver device

ABSTRACT

An improved portable cigar extinguisher and saver device consisting of an assembly of two hollow, cylindrical tube sections coupled together in a slidable, telescopic manner capable of being hermetically sealed by a movable top cap attached to the top tube section and a detachable bottom cap on the bottom tube section. The device can be sealed airtight and shortened or lengthened telescopically, thereby eliminating the space and air within to quickly extinguish a lit cigar and preserve it for later consumption, or to carry a fresh, unsmoked cigar. The device provides cigar smokers with a convenient, socially and environmentally friendly device for extinguishing and carrying a partially consumed cigar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to devices for extinguishing andsaving tobacco products that have been lit and partially smoked.

2. Background Art

The popularity of cigar smoking has not been diminished by thewidespread implementation of nonsmoking laws, regulations and workplacerules in almost all public and private venues. Because of suchrestrictions, however, and the length of time needed to smoke a wholecigar, cigar smokers often need to extinguish cigars before they arecompletely consumed. Moreover, smokers often desire a convenient meansof saving partially consumed cigars for later consumption in a sociallyand environmentally friendly way.

Devices to extinguish and/or save partially smoked cigars are known inthe art. An early example is U.S. Pat. No. 1,764,862 to Vogelsang whichuses a hollow member to receive the cigar and a base in contact with aflat surface to extinguish the cigar. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,641to Dorrance is an example of an ashtray and snuffer device, whereby ahollow member is attached to an ashtray base by a wire structure which,being cumbersome, negates portability.

An early device somewhat more practical for carrying partially consumedcigars on the person is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 802,300 toMaclachlan which describes a conical cap fitted with an elastic tube toextinguish the cigar and partially enclose it.

Perhaps the most recent devices used to extinguish lit cigars andprovide a suitable carrying case for saving the cigar for later use areprovided by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,968 and 4,907,604 to Beloff and U.S.Pat. No. 5,862,809 to Nicotra, all of which utilize a hollow cylindricaltube with a slidable snuffer mounted on a spring inside the tube, with aremovable cap on the open end of the tube, and a clip on the outside ofthe tube. While the design of these devices had certain advantages overprevious methods employed to extinguish and preserve cigars that havebeen lit, there were serious and obvious drawbacks which could even becomical and embarrassing sometimes. With the snuffer mounted on aspring, a cigar inserted in the open end can unexpectedly fly out of thetube through the hands of the smoker when the cap is removed. Also,since the useful life of the device depends on the strength of thespring, the stronger the spring the more likely the cigar becomes aprojectile when the cap is removed. And there is the obvious awkwarddifficulty of cleaning ash residue from a device with a spring inside.

The present invention dispenses with springs and slidable snuffers thatcan malfunction. Rather, the present invention utilizes simpleprinciples and a simple mechanism to quickly and efficiently extinguishlighted cigars and to provide a means to save a partially smoked cigarfor later consumption in a convenient and environmental friendly way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide an improved portable devicefor quickly and completely extinguishing lit cigars and saving them forlater use. This invention also serves as a convenient, compact cigarcarrying case that preserves cigars that have not been lit or partiallyconsumed in an optimum state of airtight freshness.

The invention is embodied in an assembly consisting of two cylindricaltubes fitted together telescopically so that a hollow top tube sectioncan extend or shorten the total length of the assembly by a slidingmovement over a hollow bottom tube section. The top tube section is openat both ends with the top end defined by an attached, movable cap thatprovides a hermetic seal when closed. The inner wall of the top tubesection contains a plurality of rib-like flanges extending verticallyfrom the top end to approximately half length of the top tube sectionand an aperture for a small screw aligned with the bottom ends of therib-like flanges. The top tube section is sized to receive the bottomtube section through its open bottom end, thereby creating a telescopiccoupling.

The bottom tube section is longer than the top tube section and itscircumference is sized to receive comfortably a standard size cigarwhile fitting within the top tube section in a telescopic, slidablymanner. The bottom tube section is open at one end and a removablebottom cap hermetically seals the opposite end. The inside surface ofthe bottom end cap has a concaved shape to form a snuffer in thepreferred embodiment of the invention. The open end of the bottom tubesection fits within the uncapped, open bottom end of the top tubesection in a telescopic coupling. The outside wall of the bottom tubesection contains a plurality of vertical recesses or groovescorresponding to the flanges on the inner walls of the top tube section,so as to provide a slidable means for the telescoping of the bottom tubesection into the top tube section. On a side without a groove, theoutside wall of the bottom tube section also contains a slightlydepressed, rectangular flat surface formed beneath the open end of thebottom tube section. The flat surface extends the same length as thegrooves and, being slightly depressed, creates a protruding lip at thetop end of the bottom tube section. The flat surface also contains adimple or notch at its lower end which corresponds exactly with thevertical plane of the small aperture for a screw in the top tubesection. When assembled with a small screw protruding through theaperture of the top tube section and the flanges resting within thegrooves of the bottom tube section, the bottom tube section slideswithin the top tube section in a telescoping manner. The telescopingmovement is stopped at the upper, capped end of the top tube sectionwhen the protruding screw makes contact with the lip formed by the flatsurface, and is stopped in the other direction by the screw settling inthe notch or dimple in the flat surface of the bottom tube section, andby the flanges reaching the end of the grooves.

In operation, the top cap is moved to expose the hollow cavity of theassembly and a lit or partially smoked cigar is inserted therein throughthe top end of the top tube section. A lit cigar is extinguished quicklyand efficiently without smoke escaping into the immediate environmentwhen the top cap and bottom cap are closed and the assembly is sealedairtight. The telescoping action facilitates snuffing the cigar byreducing the inner space of the closed assembly and eliminating the airwithin, according to the size of the partially smoked cigar. However, ifused as a carrying case for a fresh, unsmoked cigar or a partiallysmoked cigar, the telescoping action lengthens and shortens the assemblyaccordingly, and facilitates removing the cigar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cigar extinguisher and deviceaccording to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device as in FIG. 1 with the top capopen.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, sectional view of the device as in FIG. 1 showingits components. FIG. 3 details the construction of the top tube sectionwith an open top cap, clip and internal flanges, and the construction ofthe bottom tube section with the bottom cap removed, including thegrooves and a flat surface with a lip and dimple for stopping andregulating the telescopic sliding movement of the device when itscomponents are assembled.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the device as in FIG. 1 showingthe various components and the structure of the assembled device when itis in a shortened, telescoped position.

FIG. 5 is a view of the assembled device illustrating its structure whenit is in an extended non-telescoped position. DRAWINGS- ReferenceNumerals 10 top tube section 12 top cap 14 clip 16 screw aperture 18Aflange 18B flange 18C flange 20 bottom tube section 22 lip 24 flatsurface 26 dimple 28A groove 28B groove 28C groove 30 bottom cap 32screw 34 opening to hollow cavity 36 outside wall 38 inner wall

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings, the following description isonly one example of a variety of specific embodiments representative ofthe principles of the present invention. Various changes andmodifications obvious to one skilled in the art pertaining to thepresent invention are deemed to be within the spirit, scope andcontemplation of the present invention as further defined in theappended claims.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theportable cigar extinguisher and saving device that is the presentinvention. It shows an attractive assembly of two hollow, tube sectionsconsisting of a lightweight, heat resistant material. The two maincomponents consist of a wider and shorter top tube section 10 and alonger and narrower bottom tube section 20. The top tube section 10 iscrowned by an attached, movable top cap 12 and the bottom tube section20 has a bottom cap 30 which can be removed as seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention from overhead with the topcap 12 in an open position, exposing the hollow cavity 34 of the toptube section 10. This view depicts the opening of the hollow cavity 34through which a cigar is inserted into the device and through which canbe seen three rib-like flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C on the inner walls 38,The flanges (by sitting within grooves 28A,28B, and 28C) couple the toptube section 10 with the bottom tube section 20 while providing asliding means. Both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a clip 14 by which the deviceis secured to a user's pocket or other accessory.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view showing the relative proportionof the shorter top tube section 10 to the longer bottom tube section 20.A detachable bottom cap 30 is also shown. FIG. 3 depicts rib-likeflanges 18A and 18B on the inner wall 38 of top tube section 10, whichextend vertically from the opening of the hollow cavity 34 toapproximately half the length of the top tube section 10. Alsoillustrated are corresponding recesses or grooves 28A and 28B on theoutside wall 36 of the bottom tube section 20, which engage flanges 18Aand 18B when the two tubular sections are coupled together as in FIG. 4.(Not depicted on FIG. 3 are flange 18C and groove 28C which are alsoshown engaged on FIG. 4.)

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the preferred embodiment of thedevice assembled in a shortened, telescoped position, displaying thelonger bottom tube section 20 telescoped within the shorter but widertop tube section 10. In such a position the tube sections 10 and 20 aredocked or coupled together by means of flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C restingor positioned within grooves 28A, 28B, and 28C respectively. Thecoupling by means of the rib-like flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C on the innerwalls of the top tube section 10 aligned with and set within grooves28A, 28B, 28C on the outer walls of the bottom tube section 20 alsocreates a slidable means for the telescoping action of the device. FIG.4 also depicts in an exploded view the screw 32 and the screw aperture16 aligned with the dimple 26 in the flat surface 24 whereby the screw32 can be inserted through the aperture 16 and engage the dimple andserve as a stopper, along with grooves 28A, 28B, and 28C.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the rectangular, slightly depressed, flatsurface 24 that interrupts the uniform cylindrical shape of the outerwall 36 of the bottom tube section 20 on the side opposite groove 28B.As seen on FIGS. 4 and 5, the flat surface 24 is vertically aligned withthe clip 14, the screw aperture 16, and the screw 32 on the top tubesection 10. The screw aperture 16 and screw 32 are on the samehorizontal plane as the ends of flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C on the toptube section 10. As illustrated on FIG. 3, the slightly depressed flatsurface 24 on the bottom tube section forms a lip 22 at its top edge andhas a small notch or dimple 26 at its lower end. The lip 22 and thedimple 26 act as stoppers when the device is lengthened or shorten bythe sliding action.

On FIG. 4, for instance, the device is shown in its telescoped orshortened position. In this position, the screw aperture 16 in the toptube section 10 is horizontally aligned with the dimple 26 in the flatsurface 24 of the bottom tube section 20. When the screw 32 is insertedin the aperture 16, it engages the dimple and acts as a stopper when thedevice is telescoped as in FIG. 4. The sliding action is also regulatedby the length of the grooves 28A, 28B, and 28C and flanges 18A, 18B, and18C. On the other hand, when the device is lengthened by an upwardsliding action of the top tube section 10, the screw 32 makes contactwith the lip 22 which acts as a stopper.

The operation of the cigar extinguisher and saver device is simple andefficient. It only requires the smoker to insert a lit cigar into theuncapped opening 34 of the top tube section 10 as seen in FIG. 2 and toclose the top cap 12 as seen in FIG. 1, thereby creating an airtightseal at the top end of the assembled device. The device would then betelescoped or shorten to the length of the inserted cigar in order forthe space and air within to be closed off and eliminated. A lit cigarwill be immediately snuffed out as in an airtight container and noextraneous smoke will escape into the immediate environment. Thetelescoping action will also facilitate retrieving a saved cigar byexposing it.

The device is cleaned by simply removing the bottom cap 30 as in FIG. 3and cleaning out the ash residue in any manner the user desires.

Advantages

From the foregoing description of the invention in its preferredembodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1 thru 5, the cigar extinguisher andsaver device has several advantages:

-   (a) The most obvious advantage of the present invention is its    simplicity of use. It merely requires the insertion of a lit cigar    which is immediately extinguished when the top cap 12 provides a    hermetic seal and the devices is telescoped to close off the    airspace inside. Although in the preferred embodiment, the bottom    cap 30 is shaped in a manner that allows it to be used as a snuffer,    it is not necessary to mash the cigar into a snuffer or ashtray in    order to snuff out a lit cigar and eliminate the emission of    extraneous smoke into the immediate environment.-   (b) Another important advantage is its simplicity of construction    and cost effectiveness. The device, which can be constructed of any    lightweight, heat resistant material, is integrally molded and    coupled together in such a way that there are no necessary,    complicated or dependent parts that can break down and render the    device useless. There are no springs or filters or snuffer parts to    insert, or to manipulate, and/or to break down. Its useful life,    therefore, is immeasurable.-   (c) Another clear advantage is that the device can easily be cleaned    of ash residue by simply removing the bottom cap 30 and flushing out    the residue with water, air, or any means the user prefers. Because    there are no springs, filters, snuffer or other parts to remove    before cleaning, the device can be easily and conveniently cleaned    after each use at any time or place.-   (d) The ease and convenience of cleaning, the airtight, hermetic    seal made by the top cap 12 and bottom cap 30, and the simple and    quick operation of the invention prevents pollution of the immediate    physical and social environment of the user, The invention allows    the user to quickly and efficiently extinguish a lit cigar with    little or no extraneous smoke escaping into the environment.-   (e) The air tightness and the telescopic feature of the invention    also permits the user to use it as a container to carry a fresh,    unused cigar of various lengths and to maintain an unused cigar in a    fresh condition for a long period.-   (f) An added advantage is that the device is compact and thus more    conveniently carried on the person because it does not have to    accommodate springs, filters, snuffers and other components.    Moreover, its telescopic feature allows it to become even more    compact at times.

1. A cigar extinguisher and saver device comprising: An assembly of twotube sections with a hollow cavity sized to receive a cigar and composedof a heat resistant material in a telescopic coupling with movable capsat both ends; said assembly having a slidable means and a coupling meanssuch that a top tube section can receive a bottom tube section in atelescopic coupling so that said assembly can be lengthened or shortenedto a predetermined length in order to expand or contract the space andair within; said top tube section having at one end a movable top capthat can create a substantially airtight seal and an open, opposing endsized to receive said bottom tube section in a slidable and telescopicmanner; and said bottom tube section having an open end and an oppositeend with a movable bottom cap that can create a substantially airtightseal, and having a diameter less than the diameter of the said top tubesection.
 2. A device as in claim 1 whereas said slidable means and saidcoupling means consist of a plurality of integrally molded flanges ofequal length on the inner walls of said top tube section engaging aplurality of integrally molded grooves or recesses of equal length onthe outer walls of said bottom tube section.
 3. A device as set forth inclaim 2 whereby said slidable means and said coupling means include theuse of a screw to stop and to regulate the sliding movement of saidassembly.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 1 whereby said assembly oftwo tube sections has an inner circumference sized to received a cigaror tobacco product up to 54 ring gauge.
 5. A device as set forth inclaim 3 whereby said assembly has a means to secure said assembly to orwithin a person's cloths, luggage, or other portable article.
 6. Adevice as set forth in claim 3 whereby said movable bottom cap can bedetached from said bottom tube-like section.
 7. A device as set forth inclaim 1 whereby said movable top cap is attached to said top tubesection so that said top cap will create an airtight seal in a firstposition and will expose the hollow cavity in a second position.